I practiced my spirituality alone in Hong Kong.

Li Chang'an entered Ruan Xiaotang's room.

The old wooden bed against the wall was covered with faded floral sheets, and the desk at the head of the bed was tidy, with an old lamp and a neatly arranged small bookshelf.

A very faint, youthful fragrance floated quietly in the air, light, subtle, and with a touch of naivety, much like the crabapple blossoms described by Eileen Chang.

She said that crabapple blossoms have no fragrance, not that they are truly tasteless, but that their fragrance is too subtle and restrained, far less flamboyant and captivating than that of plum blossoms, orchids, and osmanthus.

Like a naive young girl, only when the closest and most trusted person is near can you smell this pure and delicate fragrance.

"Brother Chang'an, please have a seat."

While Shen Daining wasn't paying attention, Ruan Xiaotang quietly took a jar of liniment and several liniments into the room and gently bolted the door shut.

"Take off your shirt and lie face down on the bed. I'll apply the medicine and put on the plaster for you."

Ruan Xiaotang waved her hand generously, indicating that she would treat Li Chang'an's injuries.

She felt like a female knight-errant in a TV drama who saves the male lead from danger, which was incredibly cool.

Li Chang'an had just used the Snake Form Fist in actual combat for the first time and had gained many insights. He just wanted to finish quickly and go back to practice his boxing in peace.

So he didn't think much of it when he heard this, and in front of Ruan Xiaotang, he simply took off his shirt, revealing his waist and back, which had become incredibly sharp and clear after practicing boxing and stance training, and his muscles were firm and taut.

When Ruan Xiaotang saw this scene, her ignorant little brain immediately went blank, and she only felt a hot current burning all the way to her ears and forehead.

She gasped and instinctively covered her face with her hands, but her fingers parted slightly as she peeked at Li Chang'an through the gaps.

In the dim light of the alley at night, she was so worried about Li Chang'an's injuries that she didn't notice anything else.

Under the clear light, she could see Li Chang'an's tall and straight figure clearly, and she never expected that Brother Chang'an would have such a good figure!

"What's wrong?"

Li Chang'an was lying on the bed when he heard the girl's scream behind him and instinctively turned around.

"No, don't turn around... lie still..."

Ruan Xiaotang didn't want Li Chang'an to see her face flushed red; it was too embarrassing.

Her voice was barely audible as she walked over, trying to appear calm, and sat down next to Li Chang'an.

Looking at the boy's smooth, muscular back, Ruan Xiaotang swallowed hard, and then, like a Japanese person saying "Itada kimas" before a meal, she loudly proclaimed:

"I'm going to start applying the medicated oil now! If it hurts, you have to tell me."

"Um……"

Ruan Xiaotang took a deep breath, poured the liniment into her palm, and gently rubbed it to warm it. As soon as her oiled fingertips touched the bruises on Li Chang'an's back, she subconsciously touched them and felt that his body temperature was so hot, like a big furnace. Are all boys' body temperatures so high?

Thinking of this, Ruan Xiaotang withdrew her fingertips as if she had been electrocuted, and her cheeks burned even hotter.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Ruan Xiaotang carefully placed her fingertips on his back again and slowly rubbed the liniment into his back.

The girl seemed to have discovered a new continent, her almond-shaped eyes filled with curiosity about the boy's skin texture. She first probed with her fingers, and then placed her entire palm on his hand.

Later, she boldly rubbed both hands on it to apply liniment, repeatedly kneading to help Li Chang'an relax his muscles and improve blood circulation.

Ruan Xiaotang dared not speak, and even her breathing was extremely soft, with only her heart pounding in her chest.

"Xiao Tang, you should be all better now."

After a while, Li Chang'an said softly.

He has improved his Qi and blood attributes, greatly enhancing his body's self-healing ability. The bruise on his back should dissipate quickly.

However, Ruan Xiaotang, standing behind, said in a hoarse voice:

"It's not healed yet... Brother Chang'an, you're badly injured, I have to... I have to massage it for you again."

"Alright, Xiaotang, hurry up, you don't need to be so careful."

Li Chang'an felt as if Ruan Xiaotang had touched his upper body all over with hands that were coated with liniment. He was a little confused, wondering if he had been hit by that many sticks.

It seems I still need to improve my movement skills.

dong dong dong-

A knock suddenly sounded at the door, and Shen Daining's voice came from outside:

"Chang'an, Xiaotang, I cut some fruit. Don't study too late, remember to rest."

Ruan Xiaotang was so frightened that her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly jumped away from the bedside.

Li Chang'an quickly picked up his shirt and put it on.

"Brother Chang'an, go open the door!" she said hurriedly.

"it is good."

Seeing Li Chang'an go to open the door, Ruan Xiaotang quickly sat back down in her chair, grabbed a book and opened it, then let her high ponytail down to cover her burning cheek with her black hair.

If Shen Daining saw me blushing like this, she'd definitely find out something...

But the next second she felt a pang of regret, gently scratched her hair, and muttered to herself:

"Really... what's the panic? We didn't do anything strange. So what if we're found out? I was just helping Brother Chang'an apply medicine..."

"Yes, it's all Chang'an's fault, that big idiot, for getting injured!"

……

……

Inside a high-end villa on Victoria Peak.

Wen Zhilan leaned against the balcony railing of the villa, gazing at the hazy night view of Victoria Harbour in the distance.

She gently supported her head with one hand, while holding the handset of a black rotary landline phone in the other. The long telephone cord was loosely wrapped around her wrist, swaying gently with her movements.

"Zhilan, that bastard Li Chang'an didn't come to apologize to me today. Has he forgotten where I live after I moved?"

Or... should I go see him tomorrow and tell him my new address?

On the other end of the phone, Su Xingning grumbled sullenly.

Wen Zhilan listened helplessly:

"Didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to cut ties with him completely?"

"I... I was just saying that in a fit of anger when I was drunk. I'm such a magnanimous girl, of course I can't deny my friend another chance just because he made a mistake once."

Yes, this is giving him one last chance!

"If he obediently agrees to go back to retake the college entrance exam, sincerely apologizes to me, and spends a whole day with me in Causeway Bay, I'll... barely forgive him halfway. Once he gets into HKU a year later, I'll officially forgive him!"

Hearing this, even Wen Zhilan, with all her patience, sighed.

"It will indeed be a long process to gain your forgiveness. If I were Li Chang'an, I would have given up immediately."

After a moment of silence, Wen Zhilan spoke softly again:

"Xing Ning, actually I saw him today when I went to Castle Peak Road in Kowloon with Master Wong."

"No matter how you try to find him now, he probably won't listen to you and go back to repeat a year."

"Eh?"

Wen Zhilan recounted in detail how Li Chang'an had joined the martial arts industry as a martial arts choreographer and was highly regarded by Director Yuan.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Su Xingning's anxious and angry voice:

"He's absolutely ridiculous! Does that idiot Li Chang'an even know how dangerous the martial arts profession is?"

"It's a job that easily leads to broken bones, risking your life for money, and living hand to mouth—only peasants do it! How dare he drop out of school to do this!"

"If my uncle and aunt were still alive, they would definitely scold him to death!"

"Besides, Hong Kong kung fu movies have long since declined."

My sister recently interviewed several washed-up martial arts stars who were once very popular with Bruce Lee, but now they are so poor that they can't even afford to eat, and some even have to sell their blood for money.

Only a fool would make a kung fu movie these days. I would admire Li Chang'an even if he made an idol drama... This blockhead broke up with me over this stupid thing.

No, I must go see him tomorrow!

Wen Zhilan gently pressed her brow and softly advised:

"Xingning, when a man has his own career and goals, if you rush over to stop him, it will only make him feel that you look down on him, and it will only make him resentful."

"Young people are all ambitious, why don't you let him try it first?"

"Wait until he really hits a wall and can't go on, then you can reappear. Only then will he listen, and maybe he'll even remember your good deeds and be even more devoted to you."

Su Xingning paused, feeling a sense of logic in her heart, but still unconvinced, she snorted:

"...I don't want him to remember my good deeds, it's just that now that my aunt and uncle are gone, I have to take good care of him for them. I don't want to see him waste his youth."

"Yes, yes, our Xingning is the kindest."

Wen Zhilan responded to her best friend's words as if she were stroking the fur of an orange cat.

"Then...then I'll just have to endure it for a few days."

Su Xingning reluctantly compromised, then whispered something else.

"Zhilan, you have to keep a close eye on him for me. If he makes any moves, you must tell me immediately."

"rest assured."

Wen Zhilan recalled Li Chang'an's spirited figure as he practiced boxing, and casually remarked:

"I'll keep an eye on him and make sure no other girls get close to him."

"Who, who asked you to look at this!" Su Xingning's tone was both embarrassed and annoyed. "I just asked you to keep an eye on his safety for me."

"It's not about those trivial things... Don't talk nonsense!"